Washing machine



Feb. 14, 1939. c. E. LANG WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1W. jg 41., J! :[EYL GE, 4L. 4/ .54% 45- 46 a INVENTOR.

E C'ARL E LANG.

ATTORNE Feb. 14, 1939.

c. E. LANG 2,147,303

WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /ZZ A23 //7 INVENTOR. W //9 w //06 614212 E LAN6 J BY /z/ F W Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in washing machines, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a washing machine in which a perforated clothes container is rotatably mounted in a casing and is spaced from the wall of the casing for providing a fluid passageway between the container and easing walls. ried by the casing and extends across the fluid passageway provided between the container and casing walls. A second vane is carried by the container and also extends across the fluid passageway. Means is provided for rotating the container through practically a complete revolution, and then causing the container to reverse in its movement, and to rotate through another substantially complete revolution. This will cause the container vane to move from a position adjacent to one side of the casing vane into a position adjacent to the other side of the casing vane, whereupon the rotation of the container is reversed. The movement of the container vane will trap the fluid in the fluid passageway between the casing vane and the container vane so that this water will be forced through the perforations in the container, and then forced through the container for washing the clothes disposed in the the container. The flow of fluid through the container is aided by a vacuum created during the initial movement of the container vane from the casing vane during the initial portion of each reciprocation of the container. In this way the flow of fluid is used primarily for cleaning the clothes rather than the movement of an agitator as is now the practice.

As an aid to agitating the water or fluid within the container I provide vanes which extend upwardly from a position near the container bottom, and these vanes move with the container for agitating the water and the clothes for cleaning purposes. The vanes project through a false bottom or clothes-squeezing member, and means is provided for raising this member to lift the clothes against the cover of the container. The force exerted on the clothes-squeezing member is sufllcient to compress the clothes between the cover and the member and to extract water from the clothes. The squeezing of the clothes is done.

An inwardly extending vane is carfrom the device. During the squeezing operation the vanes move downwardly with respect to the false bottom until the upper edges of the vanes lie flush with the inner surface of the false bottom. In this way the vanes are moved into an inoperative position during the squeezing or clothes-wringing operation.

In one form of the invention I show the clothessqueezing means as being operated by hydraulic mechanism, while in the other form the squeezing of the clothes is accomplished mechanically. In the latter device the container, during the washing operation, is rotated continuously in one direction and the container vane is caused to swing into a position to pass the casing vane during each revolution. This feature of my invention is somewhat similar to my co-p'ending application on a washing machine, Serial No. 4,708, flled February 2, 1935.

In both forms of the present invention I show novel means for disconnecting the source of power from the clothes-squeezing member when the member applies a predetermined compressing force on the clothes.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through the washing machine portions being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the autoniatic release switch;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through-a modified form of the invention, parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 7 is a section along the line 'I---! of Figure 6; and I Figure 8 is a schematic showing of the auto matic circuit breaker.

In carrying out my invention I provide a casing l shown in Figure 1, and within the casing I rotatably mount a clothes container 2. The container 2 has a reduced portion 3 that is rotatably mounted in a bearing 4 carried by a spider 5 which in turn is mounted in an annular recess 6 in the casing bottom I. Figure 1 shows the casing bottom as having a cylindrical portion 8 and the bottom wall of this portion is provided with a packing gland Ill. The reduced portion 3 of the container 2 is threaded at H into an opening provided at the top of a cylinder l2. The cylinder is mounted in the cylindrical portion 8 and is designed to rotate freely within this portion. The cylinder l2 and the perforated clothes container 2 rotate as a unit in the bearing 4 and the cylindrical portion 8. p

A pipe l3 extends from the bottom of the cylinder l2 and passes through the opening in the bottom 8 of the cylindrical portion 8. The packing gland I0 permits rotation of the pipe [3 with respect to the cylindrical portion 8, and at the same time prevents the fluid in the portion ll from leaking past the gland. Figure 1 shows the pipe l3, passing through a housing I14 and Figure 2 shows the pipe l3 as carrying a pinion IS. The pinion in turn meshes with a quadrant I8, and this quadrant is oscillated by means of a connecting rod I! that in turn is eccentrically mounted at l8 on a worm gear i9. A worm 20 meshes with the worm gear, and the worm in turn is actuated by an electric motor 2| or other suitable source of power.

The quadrant l8 and the pinion l5 are so designed as to rotate the pipe l3 through practically one revolution, and then to reverse this movement. The pipe l3 oscillates the cylinder l2 through substantially a complete revolution and also the container 2 is likewise moved. The purpose of this is shown in Figure 3 where a container vane 22 is illustrated as being carried by the container 2, and this vane extends transversely across the fluid passageway 23 formed between the container and casing walls. A casing vane, 24 also extends across the fluid passageway 23 and is carried by the casing The arrow 25 in Figure 3 shows the start of one of the reciprocations of the container 2. The container is swung substantially throughout a complete revolution and this will carry the container vane 22 from a position adjacent to one side of the casing vane 24 into a position adjacent to the other side. It will be seen that the fluid in the passageway 23 will be trapped between the vanes 22 and 24,

and will be forced through the perforated container wall into the container. The fluid will pass entirely through the container and will agitate and wash the clothes disposed therewithin. The movement of the fluid through the container is aided by a vacuum created between the vanes 22 and 24 during the initial movement of the vane 22 away from the vane 24. This vacuum in the fluid passageway 23 will suck some of the water or fluid from the container into the passageway, and this will aid in the flow of water from other parts of the fluid passageway into the container. The washing operation is continued as long as desired, and when completed the clothes are partially dried in a novel manner which will now be described.

A flexible hose 26 is connected to the pipe l3 so that the portion of the hose actually connected with the pipe will rotate therewith. This will make a water-tight seal, although if desired a coupling could connect the hose and pipe together, and permit relative rotation between the pipe and hose. Figure 1 shows the hose 28 lead- I ing to an automatic circuit breaker 21 shown in detail in Figure 5. A conduit 28 leads from a housing 28 on the circuit breaker to a water pump 38 shown in Figure l. A conduit 3| leads from the water pump to a source of supply not shown.

Referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that the housing 29 of the circuit breaker 21 carries 9. diaphragm 32, and that this diaphragm actuates a plunger 33 which, inturn, carries a contact 34. A stationary contact 35 forming a part of the motor circuit 38 is also shown. When the motor circuit 38 is closed by means of a switch 3! the water pump 38 is actuated because it is connected to the worm gear In by the worm gear shaft 38. A valve 38 is disposed in the conduit 3| and is normally closed so that the actuation of the water pump will have no effect in forcing water into the bottom of the cylinder I2. When the valve 39 is opened, however, fluid will be forced into the bottom of the cylinder H for actuating a clothessqueezing member hereinafter described, and when the pressure of fluid inthe housing 29 reaches a predetermined point the diaphragm 32 will be flexed against the pressure of a spring 40 and will move the plunger 33 outwardly for breaking the motor circuit. This will stop the actuation of the water pump, and in this respect an automatic safety device is provided.

Referring to Figure 1 it will be noted that a false bottom or clothes-squeezing member 4| is mounted in the container 2 and has a diameter equal with the inner diameter of the container. The false bottom 4| is secured to a piston rod 42 and the lower end of the piston rod carries a piston 43 which is slidably. mounted in the cylinder l2. The piston rod 42 passes through the reduced portion 3, and is provided with a shoulder 44 at a predetermined distance from the false bottom 4|.

A disc 45 is rotatably and slidably mounted on the reduced portion 48 of the piston rod 42. This disc carries two vanes 41 that extend through slots 48 in the false bottom 4|, see Figure 4. The disc 45 is rotated with the container 2, and is connected to the container by a pin 49 extending upwardly-from the container bottom, and this pin projects through an opening 50 in the disc.

During the washing operation the rotation of the container 2 will carry the pin 48 therewith, and the pin being received in the opening 58 will also rotate the disc 45. This will rotate the vanes 41 and since the vanes project through the slots 48 a likerotation of the-false bottom 4| is effective. After the washing operation the false bottom 4| is raised by opening the valve 38 and permits the pump 30 to force fluid into the bottom of the cylinder l2. This will raise the piston 43 and cause the false bottom to lift the clothes above the water line in the container. During the initial upward movement of the false bottom the disc 45 will slide on the reduced portion 48. When the shoulder 44 of the piston rod 42 reaches the collar 5| of the disc 45 the disc 45 will be likewise raised with the false bottom. Figure 4 shows how this latter raising of the disc 45 is accomplished by the shoulder 44. The purpose of this'is to drop the vanes 41 until their upper edges lie substantially flush with the inner surface of the false bottom. The vanes 41 will therefore not interfere with the clothes-squeezing or compressing operation.

Figure 1 shows a cover 52 secured to the container top by means of pins 53 riding in bayonet slots 54 in the container rim. Other suitable fastening means may be provided. The upward movement of the false bottom 44 is such as to force the clothes against the container cover 52, and to compress the clothes and thus drive the water therefrom. The clothes during this compressing or squeezing operation are lifted above the water line, and the water will drain from the clothes into the device.

After the clothes have been-sufliciently dried by this squeezing operation a casing cover 55 is removed from the casing, and then the container cover 52 can be removed, and this will give access to the clothes. The clothes may now be removed from the container, and it will be seen that during this entire clothes-drying operation, the water or fluid need not bedrained from the container. The cover 55 is removably secured to the casing I by means of pins 53' and bayonet slots 54'.

I have shown an outlet pipe 56 leading from the cylindrical portion 8 and a valve 51 in this pipe may be opened for draining the fluid from the container and casing.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 I disclose mechanical means for raising the clothes-squeezing member and I further show the casing vane as being pivoted and controlled by a cam so that the container can continuously rotate in one direction during the washing operation. In this form of the device the casing I5 is provided with a cylindrical portion I6, and a clothes container 11 is rotatably mounted in the casing and is provided with a cylindrical extension I8 that is rotatably received in the extension 18 and is spaced therefrom by the bearing I9.

A clothes-squeezing member 89 is mounted in the container I1 and is secured to a sleeve 8| by means of a cap screw 82. The sleeve 8| has a I bore 83 with a reduced threaded end 84. A screw and extendsthrough a packing gland 99.

85 is threaded into the end 84 and extends into the bore 83. The screw 85 has an integral flange 86 bearing against the bottom of the cylindrical portion I8. The screw extends through an opening 81 in the bottom and the portion projecting through the bottom is splined as at 88.

An actuating shaft 89 is splined to the screw 85 The shaft is rotated by means of a worm gear 9| mounted on the shaft, this worm gear meshing with a worm 92, see Figure 8, that in turn is splined at 93 to a motor shaft 94. The rotation of the motor will continuously rotate the shaft 89 and the screw 85.

The motor 95 is of the reversible type and when rotated in one direction it will rotate the screw 85.

by moving the sleeve 8| downwardly until the lower end of the sleeve abuts the flange 86. This will not only look the sleeve 8| with the screw 85 but also will hold the clothes-squeezing member 89 down in its lowermost position. A pin 99 carried by the sleeve 8| rides in a slot 91 in the cylindrical member I8 and prevents rotation of the sleeve 8| with the screw 83 until the sleeve has reached its lowermost position and abuts the flange 86. Further rotation of the shaft 89 and the screw 85 in the same direction will now cause the sleeve 8| to rotate and through the medium of the pin 96 in the slot 91 will cause the cylindrical portion I8 and the perforated clothes container TI to rotate in one direction. This movement will continue as long as the clothes are being washed.

The means for forcing the washing fluid through the container comprises a casing vane 98 and a container vane 99. The vane 99 is hinged to the container and has an arm I99 provided with a roller I9I yieldingly held in engagement with a cam I92 by means of a spring I933. The cam is so designed that normally the vane 99 will "'tend radially from the container center. Hower, as the vane 99 is carried past the vane 98 vane 99 to force the fluid against'the vane 98 and this trapped fluid will be forced through the container in such a manner as to wash the clothes.

After the washing operation the clothes may be dried by moving the clothes-squeezing member 89 upwardly toward the container cover I05. The cover is secured to the container by pins I96 and bayonet slots I91. The motor 95 is reversed in its movement by the reversing 3 switch I98, and this will cause the shaft 89 to rotate the screw 85 in the opposite direction. During the clothes drying operation the cylindrical portion I8 is held against rotation by a pin I99. This pin is forced into the outer portion of the slot 91 and locks the cylindrical portion I8 and the container 11 against rotation. The operator in order to free the pin I99 rocks the handle 9 of the pin until a projection III registers with a slot II2. Thespring ||3 thereupon moves the pin toward the cylindrical portion I8. The spring II3 will yieldingly hold the pin I99 against the portion I8 and will cause the pin to enter the slot 91 as soon as the portion I8 rotates sufficiently to register the slot with the pin.

Further rotation of the screw 85 will now cause the sleeve 8| to move upwardly since the sleeve 8| is held against rotation by the pin 98 riding in the slot 91. This upward movement will continue until the clothes are lifted by the member 8'9 and pressed between the member and the v cover I95.

I provide an automatic circuit breaker for the motor when the pressure of the member 89 on the clothes exceeds a predetermined point. It will be noted from Figure 8 that the worm 92 is mounted on a shaft II4 which, in turn, is splined to the motor shaft 94.. A spring 5 is mounted on the shaft H4 and bears against a collar II8 fixed to the shaft and against a second collar II'I movable on the shaft. The collar III is held against movement, and when the pressure of the clothes upon the member 89 exceeds a predetermined point the worm 92 will ride along the teeth of the gear 9| and will force the shaft II4 toward the spring II5. This will-move an insulating block 8' with the shaft because the block is rotatably mounted on the shaft so as not to rotate with the shaft, but will move when the shaft is moved longitudinally. The insulating block II8 carries'a terminal II9 which is movedv away from a terminal I29 when the shaft H4 is moved longitudinally. This will break a motor circuit I 2| with the result that the motor will cease to function.

The clothes in being dried are lifted above the water line in the device, and after the drying operation the casing cover I22 may be removed from the casing 15 by freeing it from pins I23 carried by the cover and received in bayonet slots I24 formed in the casing. The container cover I95 may now be removed and the clothes lifted from the raised member 89.

The motor is again reversed to lower the mem- 81 to permit the container to rotate again. I show a drain pipe I25 leading from the bottom of the casing 15 and a second drain pipe I26 leading from the bottomof the cylindrical portion 16. A valve I21 controls the flow of water from the drain pipes into an outlet hose I28. It is obvious that the agitating vanes shown in the form of the device in Figure 1 may be used in this form of the device in connection with the member 80.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

, 1. In a washing machine, a clothes container, a

cover secured thereto, a clothes lifting member normally mounted at the bottom of the container and having vane receiving openings therein, a vane carrying member mounted below the member, vanes carried by the vane carrying member and projecting through the openings in the clothes lifting member, means connecting the vane carrying member with the container for causing the vanes to move with the container, means for moving the container, and means for raising the clothes lifting member for compressing the clothes against the container cover, said last named means having means for also lifting the vane carrying member when the tops of the vanes lie flush with the upper surface of the lifting member, whereby the vanes .will remain in inoperative position during the compressing of the clothes.

2. In combination, a casing provided with a cylindrical extension projecting downwardly from its bottom, a clothes container provided with a reduced portion extending from its bottom, a cylinder secured to the reduced portion and being rotatably received in the cylindrical extension, a spider disposed at the top of the cylindrical extension and carrying a bearing for rotatably receiving the reduced portion, a clothes lifting member disposed in the container, a rod secured to the member and being slidably received in the reduced portion and extending into the cylinder,

.pipe and into the cylinderfor raising the clothes lifting member.

3. In combination, a casing provided with ,a cylindrical extension projecting downwardly from its bottom, a clothes container provided with a reduced portion extending from its bottom, a cylinder secured to the reduced portion and being rotatably received in the cylindrical extension, a spider disposed at the top of the cylindrical extension and carrying a bearing for rotatably receiving the reduced portion, a clothes lifting member disposed in the container, a rod secured to the member and being slidably received in the reduced portion and extending into the cylinder, a piston mounted on the lower end of the rod and being slidable in the cylinder, a pipe extending from the cylinder and being rotatably received in the bottom of the cylindrical extension, means for rotating the pipe for rotating the container, and means for forcing a fluid through the pipe and into the cylinder for raising the clothes lifting member, and a cover secured to the container and cooperating with the clothes lifting member for extracting the water from the clothes.

4. In a clothes washing machine, a casing, a container rotatably mounted therein, a cover secured to the container, a clothes lifting member mounted in the container and being movable toward the cover, hydraulic means for lifting the member for pressing the clothes against the cover for extracting the water, said means including a pipe connected to the container and extending through the casing bottom, and means for rotating the pipe for rotating the container. CARL E. LANG. 

